NBA Boston Celtics Win Record-Setting 18th Title

The Boston Celtics were as advertised. Boston was heavily favored to win the 2023-24 NBA title, and it delivered. It was the Celtics dispatching the Western Conference-champion Dallas Mavericks in five games, overwhelming the Mavs excepting a hiccup in Game 4.

Jayson Tatum (31 points, eight rebounds, 11 assists) and Finals MVP Jaylen Brown (21 points) led the way in a never-in-doubt 106-88 victory.  

In a game of cat and mouse with the Minneapolis/Los Angeles Laker franchise, Boston has now won 18 titles (the last game, ironically, by 18 points), or one more than their rivals.

It wasn’t close in the closeout game. Boston opened a double-digit lead in the first quarter, and those in and out of TD Garden, including coach Joe Mazzulla, began an early celebration.

Kristaps Porzingis (calf) was able to return to the floor in Game 5 as well, contributing five points in 16 minutes. Boston finished the postseason with a record of 16-3, the second-best record in postseason history since all four rounds went to a best-of-seven format (the 2016-17 Golden State Warriors lost just once).

Boston has gone to the Eastern Conference finals a half-dozen times in the past eight seasons, so this title isn’t surprising. Tatum and Brown have played 107 postseason games as a tandem, Now, they have a title, which was the franchise’s first since 2008.

Brown’s the Best

In the case of the Boston Celtics, odds to win the NBA Finals MVP favored either Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.

While Tatum (see above) was the star in the final g2ame, it was Brown (averages of 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and five assists) who earned the accolades. Earlier in the series, Dallas Mavericks’ head coach Jason Kidd said Brown was the best player on the Celtics. He didn’t do anything to make a liar out of Kidd.

Boston will return virtually the same roster next season, including Porzingis. Porzingis will undergo calf surgery now that the season is over.

The Next Title

While the confetti was raining down on the floor at TD Garden, odds to win the 2024-25 NBA championship were out. It’s the Boston Celtics as solid 3-1 (+300) favorites to win the next title, according to 2024-25 NBA championship odds.

Ironically, the next four teams all come out of the Western Conference…

Denver Nuggets         8-1 (+800)
Minnesota Timberwolves     9-1 (+900)
Oklahoma City Thunder     9-1 (+900)
Dallas Mavericks         19-2 (+950)

It’s no surprise to see the Nuggets, a season after winning the title, getting their share of support with Nikola Jokic. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder are young teams who each gained valuable experience this past postseason.

The flighty Kyrie Irving appears to be committed to the Dallas Mavericks, who won the West as a five-seed this season.

Back to the East, where the Milwaukee Bucks, who aren’t that far removed after a title of their own, are a 10-1 (+1000) shots, thus second choices in the conference.

We don’t discriminate, so note the Las Vegas Aces are currently tepid 3-2 (+150) choices to defend their title, as per WNBA championship odds.

Hardwood History Lesson 

A year-by-year list of the NBA Finals winners…
2023-24 — Boston Celtics def. Dallas Mavericks, 4-1
2022-23 — Denver Nuggets def. Miami Heat, 4-1
2021-22 — Golden State Warriors def. Boston Celtics, 4-2
2020-21 — Milwaukee Bucks def. Phoenix Suns, 4-2
2019-20 — Los Angeles Lakers def. Miami Heat, 4-2
2018-19 — Toronto Raptors def. Golden State Warriors, 4-2
2017-18 — Golden State Warriors def. Cleveland Cavaliers, 4-0
2016-17 — Golden State Warriors def. Cleveland Cavaliers, 4-1
2015-16 — Cleveland Cavaliers def. Golden State Warriors, 4-3
2014-15 — Golden State Warriors def. Cleveland Cavaliers, 4-2
2013-14 — San Antonio Spurs def. Miami Heat, 4-1
2012-13 — Miami Heat def. San Antonio Spurs, 4-3
2011-12 — Miami Heat def. Oklahoma City Thunder, 4-1
2010-11 — Dallas Mavericks def. Miami Heat, 4-2
2009-10 — Los Angeles Lakers def. Boston Celtics, 4-3
2008-09 — Los Angeles Lakers def. Orlando Magic, 4-1
2007-08 — Boston Celtics def. Los Angeles Lakers, 4-2
2006-07 — San Antonio Spurs def. Cleveland Cavaliers, 4-0
2005-06 — Miami Heat def. Dallas Mavericks, 4-2
2004-05 — San Antonio Spurs def. Detroit Pistons, 4-3
2003-04 — Detroit Pistons def. Los Angeles Lakers, 4-1
2002-03 — San Antonio Spurs def. New Jersey Nets, 4-2
2001-02 — Los Angeles Lakers def. New Jersey Nets, 4-0
2000-01 — Los Angeles Lakers def. Philadelphia 76ers, 4-1
1999-00 — Los Angeles Lakers def. Indiana Pacers, 4-2
1998-99 — San Antonio Spurs def. New York Knicks, 4-1
1997-98 — Chicago Bulls def. Utah Jazz, 4-2
1996-97 — Chicago Bulls def. Utah Jazz, 4-2
1995-96 — Chicago Bulls def. Seattle SuperSonics, 4-2
1994-95 — Houston Rockets def. Orlando Magic, 4-0
1993-94 — Houston Rockets def. New York Knicks, 4-3
1992-93 — Chicago Bulls def. Phoenix Suns, 4-2
1991-92 — Chicago Bulls def. Portland Trail Blazers, 4-2
1990-91 — Chicago Bulls def. Los Angeles Lakers, 4-1
1989-90 — Detroit Pistons def. Portland Trail Blazers, 4-1
1988-89 — Detroit Pistons def. Los Angeles Lakers, 4-0
1987-88 — Los Angeles Lakers def. Detroit Pistons, 4-3
1986-87 — Los Angeles Lakers def. Boston Celtics, 4-2
1985-86 — Boston Celtics def. Houston Rockets, 4-2
1984-85 — Los Angeles Lakers def. Boston Celtics, 4-2
1983-84 — Boston Celtics def. Los Angeles Lakers, 4-3
1982-83 — Philadelphia 76ers def. Los Angeles Lakers, 4-0
1981-82 — Los Angeles Lakers def. Philadelphia 76ers, 4-2
1980-81 — Boston Celtics def. Houston Rockets, 4-2
1979-80 — Los Angeles Lakers def. Philadelphia 76ers ,4-2
1978-79 — Seattle SuperSonics def. Washington Bullets, 4-1
1977-78 — Washington Bullets def. Seattle SuperSonics, 4-3
1976-77 — Portland Trail Blazers def. Philadelphia 76ers, 4-2
1975-76 — Boston Celtics def. Phoenix Suns, 4-2
1974-75 — Golden State Warriors def. Washington Bullets, 4-0
1973-74 — Boston Celtics def. Milwaukee Bucks, 4-3
1972-73 — New York Knicks def. Los Angeles Lakers, 4-1
1971-72 — Los Angeles Lakers def. New York Knicks, 4-1
1970-71 — Milwaukee Bucks def. Baltimore Bullets, 4-0
1969-70 — New York Knicks def. Los Angeles Lakers, 4-3
1968-69 — Boston Celtics def. Los Angeles Lakers, 4-3
1967-68 — Boston Celtics def. Los Angeles Lakers, 4-2
1966-67 — Philadelphia 76ers def. San Francisco Warriors, 4-2
1965-66 — Boston Celtics def. Los Angeles Lakers, 4-3
1964-65 — Boston Celtics def. Los Angeles Lakers, 4-1
1963-64 — Boston Celtics def. San Francisco Warriors, 4-1
1962-63 — Boston Celtics def. Los Angeles Lakers, 4-2
1961-62 — Boston Celtics def. Los Angeles Lakers, 4-3
1960-61 — Boston Celtics def. St. Louis Hawks, 4-1
1959-60 — Boston Celtics def. St. Louis Hawks, 4-3
1958-59 — Boston Celtics def. Minneapolis Lakers, 4-0
1957-58 — St. Louis Hawks def. Boston Celtics, 4-2
1956-57 — Boston Celtics def. St. Louis Hawks, 4-3
1955-56 — Philadelphia Warriors def. Ft. Wayne Pistons, 4-1
1954-55 — Syracuse Nationals def. Ft. Wayne Pistons, 4-3
1953-54 — Minneapolis Lakers def. Syracuse Nationals, 4-3
1952-53 — Minneapolis Lakers def. New York Knicks, 4-1
1951-52 — Minneapolis Lakers def. New York Knicks, 4-1
1950-51 — Rochester Royals def. New York Knicks, 4-3
1949-50 — Minneapolis Lakers def. Syracuse Nationals, 4-2
1948-49 — Minneapolis Lakers def. Washington Capitols, 4-2
1947-48 — Baltimore Bullets def. Philadelphia Warriors, 4-2
1946-47 — Philadelphia Warriors def. Chicago Stags, 4-1